Exploring Spiritual Experience

Have you ever been aware of a presence or power that is different from your everyday self?

Many people answer “Yes” to this question. In fact, research suggests that over half the population have had some kind of spiritual or religious experience at least once in their lives. The accounts people give are fascinating - and important for both the people themselves and society. They quietly point towards something that the mystics have long known: that religious or spiritual experience is common to humanity.

This weekend will provide an opportunity to reflect on and learn from various kinds of spiritual experiences: those of the founders of religious traditions and the mystics as well as those of ordinary people – including our own stories.

You will also learn about the study of religious and spiritual experience, in particular the work of the Alister Hardy Trust, whose extraordinary archive houses over 6,000 accounts of first-hand experiences of people from across the world who had a spiritual or religious experience.

Marianne Rankin is Director of Communications for the Trust, which supports the work of the Religious Experience Research Centres at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David in Lampeter and at Glyndŵr University. She has gained a Master of Studies in the Study of Religion at the University of Oxford, has written on the Modern Hospice Movement, illustrated a book on Zen and is the author of ‘An Introduction to Religious and Spiritual Experience’.

Led by: Marianne Rankin

Please arrive 6pm Friday. Course ends with lunch on Sunday.

Have you ever been aware of a presence or power that is different from your everyday self?

Many people answer “Yes” to this question. In fact, research suggests that over half the population have had some kind of spiritual or religious experience at least once in their lives. The accounts people give are fascinating - and important for both the people themselves and society. They quietly point towards something that the mystics have long known: that religious or spiritual experience is common to humanity.

This weekend will provide an opportunity to reflect on and learn from various kinds of spiritual experiences: those of the founders of religious traditions and the mystics as well as those of ordinary people – including our own stories.

You will also learn about the study of religious and spiritual experience, in particular the work of the Alister Hardy Trust, whose extraordinary archive houses over 6,000 accounts of first-hand experiences of people from across the world who had a spiritual or religious experience.

Marianne Rankin is Director of Communications for the Trust, which supports the work of the Religious Experience Research Centres at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David in Lampeter and at Glyndŵr University. She has gained a Master of Studies in the Study of Religion at the University of Oxford, has written on the Modern Hospice Movement, illustrated a book on Zen and is the author of ‘An Introduction to Religious and Spiritual Experience’.

Book a place

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Special offers:

Multi-purchase: If you book three or more residential courses all at once, Ammerdown will give you 5% discount on the total fees (N.B. this 5% discount does not apply when a bursary has already been agreed)

Extend your stay: Subject to availability, you are welcome to extend your stay before or after your course. If you choose to do so, Ammerdown will give you a 5% discount on our standard ‘Private Stays’ rates: please contact the centre to arrange this.